Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1887-03-22
A Card.

Editor Spirit of Jefferson Il find DISPOSE
ton upon the part of some newspapers and
followers of Mr. Camden to attribute the fail
ure to pass the appropriation bills and the ex-
pensc of an extra session to the action of those
members of the Legislature who opposed the
election of Mr.. Camden. To remove any mis-
apprehension about this and to fix the rcspon-
sibilty where It justly belongs. | will give
statement of the facts as they came under my
observation and as I gather them from the
Journals of the Senate for the 24th and 25th of
February. The Legislative Appropriation Bill
passed the House and was reported to the SEN
ate about the l5ih of February. AS far rs
can ascertain no attempt was ever made to
pass it. The General Appropriation Bill
was transmitted from the House to the Senate
on the morning of the oath of February. 1t is
the custom to suspend the rules and take up
the appropriation bills out of their order and
consider them to the exclusion of any other
business. This done in the House aud
without opposition. 1t was the duty of Me-
Crccrv. the Chairman of the Senate committee
on finance, to press the consideration of these
bills. vet unOn examination of the Journal ]
find hut one motion made nv him. and that nj ;
o'clock ON the morning of the 18th, few
moments before final adjournment.
On the evening of the 9Th FlOurnOv moved
to take up the General approximation Bill.
but his motion WAS defeated. On the 25th.
after the dissolution of the Joint ASSEM-
bly,. on motion of Swceny the hill was taken
mp. and until the hour of adjournment its con-
SidrratiOn was firmly pressed by FlOurnoY.-
Sommcrvillc. ONlcv and others of the Camden
leaders voted steadily against the consideration
of the bill. 1t is plain there was ample time to
pass these bills The failure to pass them
could not be anticipated when n vote was taken
in the House at eight O'Clock on resolution to
extend the session. 1t is apparent that the
purpose of SomnI"rville and his followers was
to force an extension. rs after obStrilcting the
passage of the appropriation bills n resolution
to extend the session was offered in the Senate
late in the night. but was defeated. Had Nc
Creepy and SoInmcrvile been active and dill
iSeut as FlOurnov aud Price to secure the pas
sage of these bills there would have been no
need of an extra session.
The expense of an extra session over the
amount that would have been incurred by an
tension of the last session has been exaggerated
to this cXtcnt-tnt in both the per diem of menu
beers and pay of officers would be the same. The
additional expense will be about 50 500 fOT the
mileage of members. To avoid this expense
FlournOy. myself ard others urged the Gov
cr;lor to call the Legislature together on the
26th for the NrrrOsc of passing tEr anp0pria-
ton bills. This Il" concluded not to do. giving
as his reason that there was business of great
imp0rtanc" to til" people of the State that
could be attended to in an extra session. and
that its cost cOHld be much more than saved
by legislating to reduce the criminal charges
which have reached the enormous sum of one
hundred thousand dollars.
The above believe to be fair statement.
and will he sustained by an examination of.
the Journal of the Senate. R. P. CHEW.